3.2, 3.5, and 3.8 Liter V6 Mopar (Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge) Engines

Chrysler's 3.2 liter V-6 engine was a new design, using aluminum blocks and heads, based on the original 3.5 liter V6; it was discontinued in 2002 to simplify the engine lineup.

The 3.5 litre V6 engine was, at the same time, modified and switched to an aluminum block, to produce between 242 and 253 hp; a re-engineered 3.8 liter engine, related to both, was released later.

These engines could be shipped with a variable intake system, building on Chrysler's work back in the 1950s and 60s (to be fair, other automakers have used variable intake systems). It varies the length of the intake manifold tubes to create a small, but useful, supercharging effect at different engine speeds. In the past, tuning the air tubes for a boost at one engine speed sacrificed power at another; this is similar to variable valve timing in that it avoids choosing one engine speed over another for performance increases.

Both the 3.5 and 3.8 liter engines are being phased out in favor of the new Pentastar V6, engineered by Chrysler, and appearing first in model-year 2011.

Bob Sheaves suggested that these engines are derived from the larger 3.3/3.5/3.8 family, with creation in this order ("I refer to the development design and components, and not what eventually became production.")

3.3L pushrod to replace 3.0 Mitsubishi engine in Dynasty and New Yorker

3.8L pushrod for more torque in minivan AWD and New Yorker/Dynasty (bored/stroked 3.3)

3.5L first generation- High output 3.3 for first gen LH, all aluminum, overhead cam (3.3 was cam-in-block pushrod)

3.5L second generation - higher output 3.5 for LH, Prowler, minivans (never installed in these- they stuck with the 3.8L - but it was installed in the minivan-based Pacifica). This is SOHC, where the 2.7 is DOHC.

2.7L - higher efficiency, smaller displacement version of the second generation 3.5 (DOHC)

According to Bob, the 3.2 was developed from the 3.5. Willem Weertman’s Chrysler Engines book suggests that the 2.7 was based directly off the 3.5, but should be considered to be in its own engine family.

The following information was provided by Chrysler.

Chrysler V6 engines compared with those of competitive cars, 1998

Vehicle

Engine

BHP

RPM

Octane

Cost As Tested

Intrepid/Concorde, 1998

2.7L

200

5800

Regular

$21,000

LHS/300M, 1998

3.5L

250

6600

Regular

$30,000

Acura 25TL, 1997

2.5L

176

6300

Premium

$30,478

Ford SHO, 1996

3.4L

235

6100

Premium

$28,250

Intrepid/Concorde, 1998

3.2L

220

6600

Regular

$24,000

Ford Taurus, 1996

3.0L

200

5750

Regular

$24,205

Cadillac Catera, 1997

3.0L

200

6000

Premium

$34,750

Mercedes E420, 1997

4.2L

275

5500

Premium

$53,522

Nissan Maxima, 1997

3.0L

190

5600

Regular

$24,675

LH series, '93-'97

3.5L

214

5850

Mid-Grade

$24,270

Mitsubishi Diamante, '97

3.5L

210

5000

Premium

N/A

For those who think the Chrysler 3.5 is made by Mitsubishi, here is a comparison:

Engine

Chrysler 3.5 (e.g. 300M)

Mitsubishi 3.5 (e.g. Diamonte)

Power

250 hp @ 6400
250 lb-ft @ 3900

205 hp @ 5000
231 lb-ft @ 4000

Bore x Stroke

3.78 x 3.19

3.66 x 3.38

Competitive information from manufacturer's press kits and data books - sorted in order of output per liter. Fuel mileage not available. Note that the most powerful engine in this list, the Mercedes 4.2 liter, requires premium gas, comes in a car that costs twice as much as the Intrepid, and is considerably larger.